world champion for the second time, led by captain Diego Ma

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. . -- The Memphis Grizzlies had every reason to ease up in the regular season finale after pushing hard the past three months to reach the post-season. Instead, they kept grinding and grabbed the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference. Mike Conley hit two free throws with 1.1 seconds left in overtime, and the Memphis Grizzlies moved up from the eighth seed by edging the Dallas Mavericks 106-105 on Wednesday night. "Weve been holding on very tight for a long time ...," Memphis coach Dave Joerger said. "Getting 50 wins is something you want on your resume as a player, and people remember those. Those are special seasons. Its a standard, a golden standard I think." Memphis became the seventh team in the West with 50 wins this season with the victory. The Grizzlies, who set a franchise record with a 14th straight home win in a single season, will open the post-season Saturday night at Oklahoma City. They beat the Thunder in the semifinals last year with Russell Westbrook out. "Playing Grizzlies basketball going into the post-season was key, and we wanted to try to keep that momentum going," Grizzlies guard Tony Allen said. Monta Ellis missed a 17-footer before Conley drew the foul driving to the basket. Dallas had one last shot, but Ellis missed from the top of the key. "It felt good, but it didnt go down," Ellis said. "I think we did a great job. We competed. It went down to the wire, and they won." Conley was face guarding his player when he noticed Ellis got his shot off before the buzzer. "I was like, Howd he get that open?" Conley said. "When I saw it hit the rim, I was like Thank you, God. That would have been a tough one to lose." Avoiding No. 1 seed San Antonio in the first round was the only thing on the line, and Memphis has lost 14 of its last 16 against the Spurs with the Mavericks losing nine straight. Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said the Mavericks will be fine with starting in San Antonio on Sunday giving Dirk Nowitzki and Ellis time to rest. Nowitzki banged his right knee late in the first half and played the second half with a sleeve protecting his leg. "Tonight is a good indication of the fight we have in us, and were going to take that fight to San Antonio," Carlisle said. Nowitzki called this game a tough loss, but he also is positive about facing the Spurs. "Eventually we will win one," Nowitzki said. "Why would it not be Game 1 or Game 2? We are going to go out there and let it rip in Game 1." Ellis scored 14 of his 18 points after halftime, including seven in overtime. But Conley had five in the extra period, including the clinching free throws. He was 5 of 7 at the line, though the Grizzlies were 15 of 25 for the game. Zach Randolph led Memphis with 27 points and 14 rebounds, and Marc Gasol had 19 points, shooting 9 of 13. He also had nine rebounds and nine assists. Conley finished with 22, and Allen had 13. Courtney Lee added 11 despite shooting 3 of 10 from the floor. Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 30 points. Devin Harris and Brandan Wright each had 10. Harris also had 10 assists. The Grizzlies missed their chance to put away the win in regulation. Memphis was up 93-90 and had just gotten the ball back when Conley crashed into Harris for a charge, giving the ball back to Dallas with 20.3 seconds left in regulation. Ellis then hit a 3-pointer from 26 feet out on the right wing with 13 seconds left over Lee tying it up at 93, and the Grizzlies couldnt score to avoid overtime. In overtime, the Mavericks last led 105-102 on a 3-pointer from Nowitzki with 46 seconds remaining. Dallas didnt score again. Allen had a putback with 38 seconds to go, then Conley sealed the win. The Mavericks already took the season series winning the first three games by double digits. They were the last team to beat the Grizzlies in Memphis on Feb. 5, and owner Mark Cuban was at the end of the bench cheering them on. Notes: Mike Miller played all 82 games for the Grizzlies for only the second time in his career his rookie season with Orlando in 2000-01. He became only the 23rd player in NBA history to play a full season in his 14th season or later. ... Memphis won its fifth straight. ... Dallas snapped a six-game road winning streak. . Brooks replaces right-hander Yordano Ventura, who left his last outing with a sore elbow. Ventura is expected to miss one start. Brooks has made one relief appearance for the Royals this season, allowing six runs in two innings in a May 3 loss to Detroit. . Cory Batey and Brandon Vandenburg were each convicted on four charges of aggravated rape, one of attempted aggravated rape and two for aggravated sexual battery. Vandenburg was also found guilty of tampering with evidence as well as an unlawful photography charge. . Amaro broke the NCAA all-time record for receiving yards in a season for a tight end with 1,352 during his junior campaign, eclipsing the mark of 1,329 set by Rices James Casey in 2008.BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Argentinas national team was welcomed home Monday by thousands of fans celebrating its gutsy performance in the World Cup final. The team arrived in Buenos Aires on a plane painted with images of the players and a large sign reading: "Thank you Argentina." A river of emotional fans wearing the white and sky-blue striped jerseys of the national team, among them a group of Argentine gauchos on horses, flooded the road leading from the airport to the football association complex. "You showed that through courage, passion and bringing everything you have and more to the field you can triumph," President Cristina Fernandez said after greeting all members of the team at the complex with a hug and a pat on the back. "Youve given us values that Argentines, surrounded by so much triumphalism, thought were lost. Not only does the one in first place win; you also win when you show quality and manage to unite with others to go forward," Fernandez said. "Thats why I wanted to greet you today and thank you on behalf of 40 million proud Argentines." The two-time world champion entered the title match as the clear underdog after Germanys 7-1 thrashing of host Brazil. But despite complaints about lacklustre play earlier in the tournament, the team led by captain Lionel Messi showed grit throughout the 1-0 overtime loss to Germany, creating several opportunities to score in the first 90 minutes. "Im thankful to everyone. I would have liked to bring you back the Cup and to be able to enjoy it. We tried, we gave it our all but we couldnt achieve it," said Messi, who won the trophy for the tournaments best player. "Despite that, I think we gave a great joy to the country by reachhing this final and facing our rivals without giving anything away. . quot; Argentina last played in a World Cup final in 1990, when it lost to West Germany. Four years earlier, it became world champion for the second time, led by captain Diego Maradona, also in a final against the Germans. After Sundays final, thousands of saddened but proud Argentines gathered peacefully at the iconic Obelisk in downtown Buenos Aires to applaud their teams best World Cup performance in 24 years. Cars honked staccato rhythms, firecrackers were tossed into the air and fans of all ages jumped in place shouting, "Argentina! Argentina! Argentina!" "We have nothing to regret, we played first rate," said 53-year-old Horacio Laseiras, carrying his 6-year-old daughter on his shoulders. Violence broke out later Sunday night, forcing riot police to use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse vandals who threw rocks, destroyed store fronts, tore down street lights and even broke into a theatre. Parents with small children fled in fear. National security secretary Sergio Berni said 120 people were arrested. The Buenos Aires emergency medical service reported on Monday that 70 people were treated for injuries, including 15 police officers. The shot at the title united Argentines otherwise exasperated by one of the worlds highest inflation rates, an encroaching debt crisis and a corruption scandal that has penetrated deep into the presidents inner circle. Fernandez, whose approval rating has plunged in recent months, kept a low profile during the tournament. She declined an invitation to attend the final, preferring instead to rest ahead of a summit Tuesday, also in Brazil, with leaders from Brazil, Russia, India and China. ' ' '

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